Ghostzapper (Grade lll)

Purse $150.000 – For Four Year Olds And Upward

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Gulfstream Park – March 28, 2026

The 23rd running of the Ghostzapper Stakes features a deep field of ten, blending seasoned stakes performers with horses on the rise. A three-way tie sits atop the race’s record books, with Mb Stables, Night Rider Stables, and Gdp Inc all owning two victories. Night Rider Stables accounted for both of its wins with Impending Decision, who captured back-to-back editions in 2015 and 2016 when this race was run as The Hals Hope Stakes. This field also shows a wide disparity in experience, with earnings ranging from a low of $47 to a high of $913. Even with that range, this group still stacks up as solid and competitive. Let’s take a closer look at this year’s contenders.

1. No More Rattle – (Bigchief Stables, F. Geroux) Interestingly enough, this gelding is the only Grade One winner in this field. He won last year’s Santa Anita Handicap as the favorite, just getting up at the wire to win by a head. However since that win, No More Rattle has run seven times with only one finish on the board last year at Del Mar. His last start was in the Grade Three Hooper Stakes, where he didn’t run at all. Given his recent efforts, the change in distance may help spark some improvement. Recent workouts suggest that this son of Timber Rattler is doing just fine, but ultimately due to declining speed figures, other horses appear more attractive.

2. Gymnast – (Noblepark, J. Bravo) The first of two colts entered in this race and is also a multiple graded stakes winner. He put together a very productive three-year-old campaign, earning $551.000 in purse money with three wins and two runner-up finishes. Gymnast’s best performance came in the Grade Three Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, where he scored by a neck after finding room in the stretch. Since turning four, this California-bred has settled further off the pace, which presents additional challenges. He should work out a ground-saving trip, but it’s unclear if there will be enough pace up front to set up his closing kick.

3. Nimbus Two Thousand – (Bigchief Stables, T. Gaffalione) Doesn’t have a lot of stakes experience, but definitely is in good form. This son of Inconceivable has done most of his running in the claiming and starter allowance ranks. In his past three starts, he took the jump into allowance company, winning by three lengths on a muddy track. Bigchief Stables took another gamble by entering Nimbus Two Thousand in the Tenacious Stakes, and it paid off in a big way, as he delivered a 100-1 upset while earning a career-best 99 speed figure. His most recent start came at a distance that likely stretched his limits, but with a cutback to a more suitable trip here, he fits as an intriguing longshot play.

4. Bondarchuk – (YME Stable, R M. Hernandez) This Ontario-bred has done absolutely nothing wrong, winning four of his five career starts. He’s steadily worked his way through his allowance conditions and now makes the jump into stakes company. Bondarchuk took a big step forward when stretching out to two turns for the first time, wiring the field in an impressive three-length score. Last time out at Santa Anita, he showed a different dimension, rating patiently off the pace before unleashing a strong closing kick to win by a length. This will be another test for Bondarchuk, but I’ll take him as my top pick.

5. Power Grid – (The Sidley Stud, P. Lopez) Bought at auction for $300.000 and brings tons of stakes experience. The son of Power won the Street Sense and Tampa Bay Derby in his three-year-old season before running in the Kentucky Derby. Since then, he had a Grade Three win in the Durham Cup Stakes that produced a 101 speed figure. Power Grid’s last start wasn’t his greatest, running eighth and not making any headway on the leaders. This is another horse who will be closing late in a race that doesn’t have an abundance of speed. A step up is needed to turn the tables here.

6. Marciano – (Riggins Racing, A R. Rodriguez) Another rapidly improving type taking a shot in graded stakes company. Marciano enters off back-to-back wins with rising speed figures. He kicked things off in an N2L at Parx, where he proved much the best, scoring by a length. His most recent start was particularly impressive, as he closed from five lengths back in the stretch to get up by a nose in a one-other-than allowance. His lone prior stakes attempt came in last year’s Mine That Bird Derby, where he finished last, though the distance appeared to be too much. More experience at the allowance level may be needed before he’s ready to take on this field.

7. Bonus Baby – (Night Rider Stables, A. Bocachica) Leads the field with 37 career starts and is seeking his second graded stakes victory. Bonus Baby returns off a strong effort at Aqueduct, where he rallied from off the pace but just missed by a neck. It was a better-than-it-looked performance, as he didn’t find clear running room until the eighth pole when it was already too late. Two starts back, this gelding nearly went wire-to-wire in the Mr. Prospector Stakes before settling for second. Recent workouts have been solid, and with his current form, he’s a candidate to surprise against these horses.

8. Schopenhauer – (Maxmillion Farm, S X. Bridgmohan) Owns two graded stakes victories, both coming during the summer of last year. Each of those wins came on the lead and earned triple-digit speed figures. Schopenhauer has spent this year at Fair Grounds, beginning his campaign in the Louisiana Stakes, where he finished fourth after racing wide while making his move. His most recent start was a solid one, as he captured a four-other-than allowance in a seven-horse field. There’s no question Schopenhauer is capable of a big effort, but the key question remains whether he’ll deliver his best on Saturday.

9. Honour The Lord – (Hunterman Stable, S. Elliott) Hasn’t been off the board since August of last year. This four-year-old colt has been putting together some nice races, highlighted by a second place in the Hooper Stakes last time out. Previously, he won an open allowance at Churchill Downs and ran third in another graded stakes. The only downside for Honour The Lord is that his past two-turn races have been average. With encouraging workouts and solid efforts in his last few starts, he appears to be trending in the right direction. He’ll be my pick to be the one to try and upset Bondarchuk.

10. Extremely Great – (The Sidley Stud, V. Espinoza) Was claimed for just $8.000 in April of 2025 and has picked up three wins since then. His best dirt effort came in the Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs, where he finished fourth in a full field of fourteen. Since that race last year, Extremely Great has made three stakes appearances, highlighted by a win in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic. He’s a bit tough to gauge here, as his last three starts have all come on the grass. It’s clear this gelding will need a career-best effort, but this entry makes sense.

– AJM

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES